Mechanical movement



Jan. 26, 1932. H. w. MORGAN MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 16, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l A INVENTOR. is m/yma BY (2 flaw LSATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1932. H. w. MORGAN MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 16, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR flay W/Fgyarz By (f) J A TTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1932. H, w; M R AN 1,842,796

MECHANICz XL MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 16, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 "13 7 75 .4 C(CD INVENTOR. fik ym yan %zIs TTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1932. H. w. MORGAN 1,842,796

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 16, 1929 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

66' Elly mzym is TTORNEYS Patented Jan. 26, 1932 warren STATES PATENT OFFEQE HENRY W. LEO EGAN, F BRIGHTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 IiEORGiLN lvIACHEIFf-TB SCIE- IPANY, INC, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A. CDRPOBATION OF NEN YORK MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Application filed December 16, 1929.

This invention relates to a mechanical movement which may be used to control a re ciprocating member or similar element. An object of the invention is the provision of a simple, eflicient and satisfactory mechanical movement by which the position of the end of the stroke of a reciprocating member may be varied to keep it at a substantially constant point with respect to an adjustable member, 1 in any adjusted position of the latter.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a mechanical movement which is automatic in operation, so that adjustment of the adjustable member automatically controls the mechanical movement to produce corresponding adjustment of the position of the end of the stroke of the reciprocating member.

A further object is the provision of such a mechanical movement which may be used all satisfacto ily in certain types of machines such as nailing machines and the like.

A still further object of the invention is the provision, in nailing machines or the like,

of a clinching anvil which is substantially thereto, showing the parts in initial position with work inserted ready for nailing;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts at the completion of the nailing stroke;

Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 on a larger scale, illustrating the action of the clinching anvil in clinching the nails;

Fig. 4c is a fragmentary view on a larger scale of part of the mechanism shown in Fig.

Serial No. 414,396.

1, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating the work support adjusted down wardly to a position for use in nailing thick boards;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the work support adjust-ed upwardly to a position for use in nailing thin boards;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the levers forming part of the mechanical movement, the section being taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially centrally through the levers forming part of the mechanical movement, and

Fig. 8 is a section substantially on the line- 88 of Fig. 7.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it is here disclosed in connection with a nailing machine, although it is to be cleany understood that mention of a nailing machine is made only for purposes of illustration, and that many of the principles of the invention are applicable equally well to a wide variety 01. other machines and mechanisms.

The nailing machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a base 10 having an upright standard or frame 11 on which a nail chuck holding device 1.2 and a nailing head 13 are mounted for vertical sliding movement. The main shaft 15 of the machine is journaled in the upright frame 11 and is rotated in the direction of the arrow 16 by a gear 17 fixed to the shaft and meshing with a pinion 18 driven by a pulley 19 operated from a belt 20.

During the rotation of the shaft 15, an eccentric thereon operates upon a pull rod 26 connected to the eccentric strap so as to raise and lower this rod, the upper end of which is pivoted at 2'? to the nailing head 18. Thus the downward movement of the rod 26 pulls downwardly upon the nailing head 13 while upward movement of the rod returns the head to its initial position. During the downward movement of the head 13, the pivot 27 acts, through mechanism including the lever 28, to depress the nail chuck carrying device 12 until the chucks carried thereby come substantially into contact with an upper board which is to be nailed to a lower board 31, and present nails in proper position to be driven into the boards by the drivers 32 depending from the nailing head 13. The construction and operation of the chuck carrying device 12 and the nailing head 13 are well known in the art, and need not be further described here. Fig. 1 illustrates the parts 12 and 13 in their elevated position, while Fig. 2 shows them depressed to drive the nails into the boards.

While the nails are being driven, the boards 30 and 31 are supported upon an adjustable shelf-like member 35 which forms the work support and which is movable up and down suitable guides on the frame 11 by any suitable adjusting means such as a vertical screw, part of which is shown at 36, and which may be rotated to raise or lower the support 35 by rotating a pinion 3'7 meshing with a bevel gear 38 fixed to the shank of the screw 36.

Vertical adjustment of this adjustable member 35 is necessary in order toaccommodate the mechanism to boards of various thicknesses. The nailing head 13 and its nail d ivers 32 have a constant stroke, and when in its upper position the device 12 is always a constant distance above the top surface of the upper board, irrespective of the thickness of the boards, due to the adjustment noted above. This distance is indicated at is in Figs. 4 and 5. Hence when thin boards are to be nailed, the adjustable support 35 must be elevated closer to the device 12 and the lower ends of the drivers 32 than when thicker boards are being nailed.

Preferably the nails used are of such length that the points thereof project below the bot tom of the lower board 31 when the nails are driven home, and mechanism is provided for bending over or clinching these nails. This mechanism comprises one or more clinching anvils 40 supported upon a reciprocating member 41 extending transversely across the machine, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The reciprocating member 41 is arranged to reciprocate substantially vertically in suitable guideways formed on the adjustable member 35. One anvil 40 is placed on the member 41 in position beneath each nail or group of nails to be driven, the anvils 40 being spaced along the member 41. and in the spaces between the anvils (which are spaces in which no nails are driven) supporting bars 42 eX- tend across the slot in which the member 41 reciprocates, to support the boards and prevent them trom falling into this slot when the member 41 and the anvils 40 are in de pressed position. 7

Since the nails are to be driven through the boards 30 and 31 so that they project below the bottom of the latter, the anvils 40 must not be in contact with the botoin of the board 31 during the actual nail driving operation, but must be spaced below the board sufficiently so that the nails may project without coming in contact with the anvils. Hereto'fore it has been customary to have the anvils in depressed position initially, when the work is placed on the work support, and to move the anvils upwardly subsequent to the driving of the nails to clinch them. l Vhen this customary arrangement is used, it is found that the work when being positioned by the operator sometimes catches on the edges of the pockets or depressions formed on the work support because of the depressed position of the anvils. This catching of the work, on the cross bars 42 or elsewhere, slows up production and is annoying to the operator.

According to the present invention, on the other hand, the tops of the anvils 40 are initially substantially flush with the tops of the work support 35 and cross bars 42, so that there are no pockets or depressions in which the work can catch while being positioned. Then after the work is positioned, and prior to the actual driving of the nails through the boards, the anvils are depressed to provide the necessary clearance for the nails. Subsequently the anvils are raised to a position slightly above their initial flush position, to clinch the projecting ends of the nails, and are then lowered slightly to their flush position in readiness for the next cycle of operation.

This movement of the clinching anvils is accomplished by mechanism described below. Fig. 1 shows the anvils in their initial flush position, while Figs. 2 and 3 show them raised to their highest or clinching position. This clinching is timed to take place substantially at the instant that the eccentric 25 is in its lower dead center position, so that the upward thrust on the driving head 13 created by the upward thrust of the anviis 40 pulls directly upon the eccentric in its dead center position and avoids off center strains thereon.

It has been explained above that the adjustable work support 35 must be adjusted upwardly or downwardly in accordance with different thickenesses of boards to be nailed, and it is obvious that the reciprocating action. of the member 41 must likewise be varied in accordance with the upward or downward adjustment of the member If the position ofthe upper end of the reciprocating stroke of the anvils 40 were not elevated when the support 35 was elevated to accommodate thinner boards, it is obvious that the anvils would not come into contact with the projecting ends of the nails and clinch them properly. Likewise, if the position of the upper end of the reciprocating stroke were not moved downwardly when the support 35 was depressed to accommodate thicker boards,

then the anvils 40 would be elevated too far during their reciprocation and would crush the boards or break parts of the mechanism. Accordingly, it is seen that although the reciprocating member 41 is preferably reciprocated through a substantially constant stroke, the position of the upper end of this stroke must be varied in accordance with the adjusted position of the adjustable supporting member 35, so that the position of the upper end of the stroke is always at a substantially constant point relative to the adjustable member 35 in any adjusted position of the latter.

The present invention provides means for accomplishing this adjustment of the reciproeating stroke of the member 11 in an automatic manner. This means comprises a controlling member such as the lever 50 fulcrumed upon a pivot 51 fixed to the frame 11 of the machine. This lever 50, as shown especially in Fig. 6, may be constructed of a pair of spaced side plates through which the pivot 51 passes, a spacing block 52 being inserted between the plates adjacent their upper edges. At the forward ends of the side plates of the lever 50 the spacing block 52 is enlarged into what might be termed a bearing nose 53 having an upper arcuate bearing surface 54-v and a lower arcuate bearing surface 55, as shown especially in Fig. 7 Rivets 58 pass through the member 53 and the side plates of the lever 50 (see Fig. 8) to hold the parts rigidly together. The lower edge of the nose 58 is widened and underlies the bottom edges of the side plates of the lever, to provide a wiser bearing surface on the lower side 55 of the nose, since in operation the greater stresses come upon this lower bearing surface. Instead of being fabricated, the lever and nose may he made as one integral forging or castmg.

The nose 53 fits into a cavity between hardened bearing surfaces 59 formed on the adjustable member 35. Thus when the adjustable member 35 is depressed to accommodate thick boards, as shown in Fig. 4:, the nose 53 is likewise depressed by reason of its engage ment with the surfaces 59 of the adjustable member. This results in raising the opposite or end of the lever 50, which is on the opposite side of the fulcrum 51 from the nose 53. When the adjustable member is raised so that the machine may operate upon thinner boards, this raises the nose of the controlling lever and lowers the rear end of the lever, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

At the rear end of the lever 50, if the lever is fabricated. the side lates thereof may be joined toge .cr by a rivet 60, which has its central portion of larger diameter than the ends which pass through the side plates, so that these plates are held in proper spaced relation by the rivet. 7

Near the rear end of the controlling lever 50 is a pivot pin 61 on which is pivoted an actuating element such as the lever 62. This lever, like the lever 50, may be constructed of a pair of spaced plates or may be formed integrally as a forging or casting, but the sides of the lever 62 are not spaced so far apart as the sides of the lever 50, and are received within the sides of the latter lever, as shown in Fig. 6. The sides of the lever 62 are provided with elongated. arcuate slots 63 through which the pivot 51 passes, so that this pivot does not interfere with movement of the lever 62 about its fulcrum 61.

At an intermediate point on the actuating lever 62, and near the lower edge thereof, is a roller 64 mounted upon a stud 65 lined in the sides of the lever. At the forward end of the lever 62 is ablock (36 in which is threaded an adjusting screw 6'? provided with a lock nut 68. The upper end of this zuljusting screw 6? is in position to bear against the under side of a hardened wear plate 69 fixed to the bottom of the reciprocating member ll, as shown especially in Figs. 4t anl 5.

The main shaft 15 is provided with a cam 70 in position to act upon the roller 6 1-, this cam havim a high spot designated by the numeral 70a. During the rotation of the shaft 15, and substantially at the instant that the eccentric25 is in its lower center position, the high spot 70a of the cam 70 acts upon the roller 64 to raise this roller and thus to elevate the forward end of the actuating lever 63, which causes the upper end of the screw 6? to press upwardly upon the reciproeating member 41 force the latter up to the clinching position. The adjustin crew 67 may be adjusted so that the upward stroke of the reciprocating member terminates exactly at the proper point.

hen the parts are in initial position for inserting new work, the roller 64- is on a portion of the cam 70 which is of intermediate height, so that the anvils 40 are substan ially flush with the top of the wor support, shown in Figs. 1 and .1-, for example.

AS the nailing head 13 moves downwardly, the cam 70 rotates so that the follower roller 64 moves down an incline to a low portion of the cam, indicated by the numeral 70?) in Figs. 1, 2, and 1. The roller is on this low portion of the cam at the time the actual driving of the nails takes place. so that at this time the clinching auvils are depressed below the level of the worksupport 35 and clearance is provided for the nails so they may project below the boards.

' Just as the actual nail driving is completed, and while the nail divers sti l the heads of the nails, continued re 1 ion of the cam causes the roller 64 to ride up the relatively steep incline between the low portion 70?) of the cam and the high point 70a thereof, so that the clinching anvils are thrust violently upwardly against the projecting ends of the nails to bend them over and clinch them, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Then, as the driving head 13 moves upwardly to its initial position, the roller 6d rides down a gradual incline from the high point 70a of the cam to the portion of intermediate height, so that the clinching anvils are low cred slightly to their normal initial position, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4:, in which they are flush with the work support, thus com pletely filling the spaces between the cross bars 42 so that there are no depressions in which work can catch while being inserted or removed.

It will be observed that the actuating element or lever 62 has one portion (that is, the screw 67 at its forward end) cooperating with the reciprocating member 41, and that another portion (that is, the roller 64:) of the lever is perated upon by the cam 7 O to shift the lever to reciprocate the member ll. It is also apparent that the fulcrum 61 of the ope ating lever 62 ren'iains fixed so long as the adjustable member 35 remains fixed in one position, but as soon as the member 35 is adjusted to any other position, the controlling lever is automatically moved and the fulcrum 61 of the operating lever is thus moved correspondingly.

In use, when the adjustable member 35 is at or near the upper limit of its movement, as shown in 5, the fulcrum 61 of the operating lever is in a relatively low position so that the actuating end 67 of the lever raises the member ll to the proper position at each rotation of the shaft 15. When the adjustable member 35 is lowered, however, the fulcrum 61 is raised, as illustrated in Fig. and thus the operating end 67 of the actuating lever is lowered. In this position, rotation of the cam 70 will reciprocate the member 4-1 through substantially the same length of stroke as when the member 35 is in a more elevated position, but both the upper and lower limits of each reciprocation will be lower, so that the upper limit of the he remains in substantially the same position relative to the adjustable member 35 notwithstanding the fact that this member has been lowered.

In this way, the movements of the reciprocating; member 41 are always and automatic y accouiimodated to the adjustable mem- W so that the ends and particularly the upper end of the stroke of the reciprocating member occurs always at substantially the same point relative to the adjustable member 35, no matter to what position this ad justable member may be shifted. It will be seen that the principle of this mechanism is applicable to a wide variety of uses in many kinds of machines, and may be employed advantageously wherever it is desired to keep the strokes of a reciprocating member in predetermined relationship to an adjustable member in any adjusted position of thelatter.

l Vhen the machine is a wide one and the reciprocating member ll is comparatively long, two sets of operating mechanism may be provided, one near each end of the member 41, each set comprising the parts 50 to 70 inclusive.

A pin (Fig. 6) mounted on the adjustable member 35 and movable up and down therewith slides through a hole inthe pivot pin 51 and prevents accidental longitudinal displacement of the pivot pin from its socket in the frame 11.

The term reciprocation as used here and in the claims is intended to cover broadly not only a rectilinear movement but also any similar movement along a curved or arcuate path. as it will be seen that the same principles of the invention may be employed equally well whether the so-callcd reciprocating member moves through a straight path, as in the present embodiment, or through a somewhat curved path.

The statement used in some of the claims that the reciprocating member reciprocates in the direction of movement or the direction of adjustment of the adjustable m mber is used simply for the sake of brevity, and is intended to embrace any movement which has a component in the direction of movement or adjustment of the adjustable mem her. It is apparent that the principles of the invention apply equally well to a construction in which the r ciprocatini' member ll might move at a considerable angle to the direction of adjustment of the member 35, provided this movement of the reciprocating member had a component in the direction of movement of the member 35.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosec, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is therefore not to be limited to the precise details shown, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof fall ng within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a construction including an adj ustable 'member and a reciprocating member movably mounted on said adjustable member for reciprocation in the direction of adjustment of said adjustable member, means for imparting to said reciprocating member reciprocations of substantially constant n'iagnitude and of substantially constant relationship to said adjustable member in any ad justed position of the latter, said means comprising an actuating element, means acting upon one portion of said actuating element to move it to reciprocate said reciprocating member, and means for adjusting the position of another portion of said actuating element to vary the action of said element on said reciprocating member in accordance with the adjustment of said adjustable member.

2. The combination with a frame, of a member adjustably mounted for movement relative to said frame, a reciprocating member mounted for reciprocation with respect to said ustable member in the direction of movement of the latter, and means for controlling said reciprocating member to impart thereto reciprocations having their strokes terminating at a substantially fixed point relative to said adjustable member in any adjusted position of the latter, said means comprising an actuating element cooperating with said reciprocating member to move the latter, means mounted upon said frame and acting upon one portion of said actuating elen'ient to move said element, and mechanism movable concomitantly with the adjustment of said adjustable member and acting upon another portion of said actuating element for varying the action of the latter upon rid reciprocating member.

3. The combination with a frame, of a member atj ably mounted for movement relative to said frame, a reciprocating mcmber mounted for reciprocation with respect to said adjustable member in the direction of movement of the latter, and means for con trolling reciprocating member to impart thereto reciprocations having their strokes terminating at a substantially fixed point relative to said adjustable member in any adjusted position of the latter, said means comprising an actuating lever operatively connected to said reciprocating member, means mounted upon said frame for shitting said actuating lever to move said reciproeating member, and mechanism controlled by the movement of said adjustable member for shifting t i fulcrum of said lever relative to Raid adjustable member. 7

l. The combina ion with a frame, of member adjustably mounted for movement relative. to said frame, a reciprocating membcr mounted for reciprocation with respect to said adjustable member in the direction of movement of the latter, and means for controlling said reciprocating member to impart thereto rcciprocations having their strokes terminating at a substantially fixed point relative to said adjustable member in any adjusted position of the latter, said means comprising an actuating lever operatively connected to said reciprocating member, means mounted upon said frame for shifting said actuating lever to move said reciprocating member, and a second lever operatively connected to said adjustable member to be moved in accordance with the adjusting movements tl ereof, said actuating lever being fulcrumed upon said second lever.

5. The combination with a frame, of a member adjustably mounted for movement relative to said frame, a reciprocating mom her mounted for reciprocation with respect to said adjustable member in the direction of movement of the latter, and means for con-- trolling said reciprocating member to impart thereto reciprocations having their strokes terminating at a substantially fixed point relative to said adjust-able member in any adjusted position of the latter, sa'd means comprising an actuating lever operativel connected to said reciprocating men'rber, means mounted upon said frame for shifting said actuating lever to move said reciprocating member, and a second lever fulcrumcd upon said frame and operatively connected to said adjustable member to be moved in accordance with the adjusting movements thereof, said actuating lever being fulcrumed upon said second lever.

6. A nailing machine comprising a frame, a work support mounted for adjustment relative to said frame, clinching anvil mounted for reciprocation relative to said work support, and means for reciprocating said anvil so that one end of the stroke thereof occurs at a substantially fixed point relative to said work support in all adjusted posit-ions of the latter, said means comprising a con trolling member movable in accordance with the adjusting movements of said work sup port, an actuating lever fulcrumed upon said controlling member and opcratively connected to said anvil, and means for moving sai d actuating lever to reciprocate said anvil.

7. A nailing machine comprising a frame, a work support mounted for adjustment relative to said frame, a clinching anvil mounted for reciprocation relative to said work support, and means for reciprocating said anvil so that one end of the stroke thereof occurs at a substantially fixed point relative to said work support in all adjusted positions of the latter, said means comprising a controlling lever operativcly connected to said. work support to be moved in accordance with the adjusting n'iovements thereof, an actuating lever fulcrumed upon said controlling lever and operatively connected to said anvil, and means having a substantially fixed range of movement for moving said actuating lever to reciprocate said anvil.

8. In anailing machine, the combination with nail driving mechanism, of a work sup-- port for holding work while nails are driven thereinto, a clinching anvil, and operating mechanism for said anvil, said operating mechanism being effective to maintain said anvil substantially flush with said work support while work is being inserted in said machine and subsequently to displace said anvil from such flush position.

9. In a nailing machine, the combination With nail driving mechanism, of a work support for holding work while nails are driven thereinto, a clinching anvil, and operating mechanism operatively connected to said nail driving mechanism to maintain said anvil substantially flush with said work support while work is being inserted in said machine, to depress said anvil below said work support while a nail is being driven so as to provide clearance for a projecting end of such nail, and to move said anvil into contact with such projecting end to clinch the nail.

10. In a nailing machine, the combination with nail driving mechanism, of a work support for holding work while nails are driven thereinto, a clinching anvil, and mechanism operating in timed relation with said nail driving mechanism for operating said anvil, said operating mechanism including a cam having a portion for maintaining said anvil substantially flush with said work support While work is being inserted in said machine, a second portion for depressing said anvil below said work support while a nail is being driven, to provide clearance for a projecting end of such nail, and a third portion for moving said anvil into contact with such projecting end to clinch the nail.

11. The combination with a frame, of a member adjustably mounted for movement relative to said frame, a reciprocating member mounted for reciprocation with respect to said adjustable member in the direction of the movement of the latter, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having one end thereof connected to and movable with said adjustable member, an actuating member fulcrumed upon said lever for controlling said reciprocating member to impart thereto reciprocations having their strokes terminating at a substantially fixed point relative to said adjustable member in any adjusted position of the latter, said lever upon movement of said adjustable member shifting the fulcrum of said actuating member relative to and in a direction opposite to the movement of said adjustable member, and mechanism for moving said adjustable member.

HENRY W. MORGAN. 

